Improvement in desks



J. I'. STEWART.

DESK.

No. 191, 93. mama June 12, 18-77.

NJPETERS, PHOTO-UTRDGRAFHER, W ASHINGTDN, D. C.

- 3Sheets-Sheet 2. J'. I. STEWART.

. DESK. No. 191,893, Patented June 12,1877.

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N-PEYERS, PHOTO-LITNOGRAPNER, WASHINGTON. D. C.

3Sheets-Sheet 3. J. I. STEWART.

DESK.

Patented June 12, 18 77.

, yank): 779%Z NIPETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D, G v

UNITED STATES OFFICE.

JOSEPH I. STEWART, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN DESKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. E9139 3, dated J uue 12,1877 application filed May 23. 1877.

To all, whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH I. STEWART, of Boston, county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Desks, of which 7 the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Figure l is a perspective view of my improved desk as it appears when the writingcase proper is mounted upon the drawersection. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the mirror-section as it appears when detached from the base, showing the central door in a closed position. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the interior or inner face of the door, illustrating the method of hinging the writing-shelf thereto. Figs. 4 and 5 are, respectively, front and plan views of the writing-shelf as it appears when lowered into position for use. Fig. 6 is a detached view, exhibiting the form of the central drawer placed under the door in the mir Tor-section. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section through the drawer-chest or base of the desk, illustrating the contour of said base, and the manner of arranging the drawers therein. Fig.8 is a side view of the desk as it appears when the mirror-section is mounted upon the base; and Fig. 9 a similar view, showing the writing-case proper upon said base, These last two figures also exhibit the method of connecting and locking the several interchangeable portions of the device.

Like letters in all the figures refer to corresponding parts.

The object of my invention is to provide a neat, simple, and attractive piece of furniture to be placed in the corner of a room, which shall serve primarily as a writing-desk, but which is so constructed and arranged as that a series of mirrors may be mounted thereon, and thus the offices both of writing-desk and dressing-case be fulfilled in one and the same article of furniture.

To accomplish all of this, the invention consists in certain details of construction and arrangements of parts, all of which will be first fully described, and then pointed out in the claims. I

A is the base or drawer section, having drawers B 0 located at right angles to each other, the plan of this section being substantially a right angle, as plainly indicated in Figs. 1 and 7, and the parts which are mount- .ed thereon being similarly formed so far as their horizontal sections are concerned. The device is well adapted to be placed in the corner of a room, where it will be practically out" of the way when not in use, and where it will occupy a space but seldom allotted to a piece of furniture of a similar character, or designed for similar uses.

This position for a writing desk will be found quite advantageous, in that the light may be conveniently directed toward it from either or both sides of the room.

The sides of the base being unbroken, op-

portunity is afforded for running the several drawers of one of the tiers from the drawer front clear through to the outer side of the other tier. The longer drawers are represented at O, and the shorter ones at B. By this arrangement all the available drawerspace is utilized. It is obvious that by following a similar arrangement the long and short drawers may be made to alternate in each tier, though this would add slightly to the cost of the desk, and might not be warranted by the trifling increase in convenience or advantage.

The top of this section is perforated to receive the projections or pins U U, &c., depending from the bottom of the sectionto be mounted thereon, and is also provided with a siinple'locking device to firmly secure the two parts together, while it, at the same time, admits of their being easily and readily removed,

that the severalparts may be interchanged or otherwise handled, as desired.

A representative of this locking device is found in the hook R, attached to the drawersection, and the pin T, with which said hook engages, the pin being placed upon the part next above. In the heavier forms of desks a locking contrivance is not deemed essential, since the weight of the upper portions is generally suflicient to sustain them in their required positions; but I deem it advisable to use them to guard against accident in moving, particularly when the tall mirror-section is employed. Being placed upon the sides of the desk which are nearest the walls, they will always be out of sight, and may, therefore, be made as cheaply as is consistent with their necessary strength.

In Fig. 1 isshown an angular desk mounted upon the drawer-section, and this is provided with the usual pigeon-holes, book-racks, drawers, &'c., care being taken to utilize all the available space; and above this are placed the bracket-shelves F, which are secured by pins and locks in the same manner as before described for connecting the base-section and the structure next above it. The hinged door E is shown as dropped down, finding a suitable support 'upon the plate which covers the lower section, and forming the writing shelf or leaf.

In Fig. 2, GG are two mirrors located at right angles to each other, and H is the door carrying also a mirror. Upon the inner face of this door the writing-shelf K is hung, so

that it may be readily folded up and held against the door. The hinge M is pivoted to the door, as at 0, so that when said door is opened, and it be desired to drop-the leaf for Writing purposes, it will be only necessary to loosen the catch N, swing the leaf upon the pivot 0 until it takes the position K L, indicated by dotted lines, then drop it to a horizontal position. The writing-shelf is composed of two leaves, K and P, which fold upon each other by any suitable hinge. When in posi tion for writing, the main leaf K is supported at one end by the hinged prop L resting upon the top of the drawer-section below, and the secondary leaf P may be sustained by any desirable form of catch attached to the door or other convenient portion of the desk. The space in rear of the hinged door should be provided with shelves, &c., which may answer for books or toilet articles, as most desired. This location of the mirrors with respect to each other. contributes greatly to the usefulness of the structure as a dressing-case, enabling one to view the reflections of different portions of the figure with very little trouble. The door H will enable one to easily adjust two of the mirrors with respect to each other by simply swinging it open. As a writingcase. these mirrors serve to throw the light upon the writing leaf or shelf from whatever part of the room directed; and, as a piece of parlor furniture, a very fine effect is given in the reflections of other articles of furniture.

Upon the top of this mirror-section, which is interchangeable with the desk proper, or which may be used independently of base A,

I place any suitable ornamental work, secured by hooks and pins, as before described. If found necessary, the bracket-shelves F may be transferred to this section. The drawer I beneath the door H (as in Fig. 6) is pointed to fit the angle between the outside mirrors and this figure illustrates sufficiently the form of the space in rear of the door H, and thus the general shape of the shelves before alluded to. The reflecting-surfaces may, if desired, be omitted, and the cost of this section thereby diminished.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The herein-described base or drawer section for a corner-desk, the same being made up of the two tiers of drawers at right angles to each other, and adapted to receive and hold the desk proper, or mirror-section, in the manner set forth.

2. In combination with the base-section, composed of two tiers of drawers of unequal lengths located at right angles to each other, the mirror-section having hinged central mirror and writing shelf or leaf attached, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In combination with the hinged door H, the writing-leaf K P, hinge M, pivoted as at O, and the hinged prop L, the whole being adapted to operate substantially as set forth.

In testimony that 1 claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

J. I. STEWART.

Witnesses:

JAS. T. MOFFETTE, JOHN H. FRENCH. 

